SWG: Social Work Graduate
How to Read Course Descriptions
SWG 501. Social Work Generalist Practice I. 3 Credits.
This is the first of two required generalist year practice courses. It provides an introduction to strengths-based generalist practice using a collaborative approach. The course is designed to allow students the opportunity to demonstrate generalist level competencies. Grounded in a person and environment construct, an appreciation of oppressive systems, and respect for human diversity, the course provides students with generalist knowledge, skills and values necessary for generalist social work practice. This course is taken concurrently with SWG 596 as a way to provide students with the opportunity to integrate their developing competencies across knowledge, values and skills.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 502. Social Work Generalist Practice II. 3 Credits.
Building on SWG 501, this course focuses on theory and practice for work with groups, including therapeutic units, families, groups within organizations, teams, and community groups. In accordance with social work values, special attention is given to diverse populations. This includes individuals, groups, and communities affected by different forms of oppression on the basis of perceived age, ability, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, and gender. Grounded in a person and environment construct, an appreciation of oppressive systems, and respect for human diversity, this course provides students with generalist knowledge, skills, and values necessary for generalist social work practice with families and groups. This course is taken concurrently with SWG 597 as a way to provide students with the opportunity to integrate their developing competencies across knowledge, values, and skills.
SWG 502 Prerequisite: Successful completion of SWG 501 with a minimum grade of C-. Corequisite: SWG 597.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 503. Integrative Bridge Course. 3 Credits.
This course, required of all advanced-standing students, provides preparation for entry into the second year specialization in direct practice with individuals, families and communities. It integrates generalist values, knowledge, and skills from the content areas of social work practice, the dialectic of oppression and liberation, social welfare policy, and social work research. It also sets the stage for framework of the WCU MSW's specialization grounded in human rights and social and economic justice, as well as the three core values of enhancing resiliency, supporting recovery, and mitigating the effects of trauma to build capacity.
SWG 503 Prerequisite: Student must be a Graduate Social Work major in Advanced Standing.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 509. Trauma-Informed Social Work Practice. 3 Credits.
This course will introduce students to trauma-informed social work practice through frameworks of resilience and resistance. Through lecture, experiential learning, media, class discussions, and course readings, students will learn about the physiological and psychological effects of trauma on individuals, families, and communities. This course will also invite students to analyze the politics of trauma and how they influence access to comprehensive, culturally humble, and trauma-informed individual and community care.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 511. The Dialectic of Oppression and Liberation. 3 Credits.
Within the context of a diverse and stratified society, this generalist course examines oppression as an interlocking force that exerts itself interpersonally and systemically on marginalized communities, and specifically the history of oppression in the profession of social work. Students will engage in utilizing critical thinking skills, analyzing power differentials, and examining their own personal and professional biases. Students will be invited to engage in the conceptualization of an advocacy initiative in a process centering self-reflection, community-driven methods of social work practice, and alignment with the NASW and/or IFSW Code of Ethics.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 533. Methods of Social Work Research. 3 Credits.
This course is an introduction to the methods of social work research that provides foundation knowledge to prepare social workers to engage in evidence-based practice with individuals and families. The focus is on building foundation knowledge of the methods of social work research including single subject and group designs; exploratory, descriptive, and explanatory designs; qualitative and quantitative data gathering, analysis and data dissemination.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 534. Advanced Research Methods: Program Evaluation. 3 Credits.
This advanced research methods course focuses on skill development for collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data collected from individuals and groups, including survey development, semi-structured interview protocols, individual interviewing techniques and focus group facilitation techniques. Students will utilize common software for data analysis to explore common bivariate statistical analysis and phenomenological analysis. Software for creating web-based surveys will also be explored. Skill development will be conducted in the context of conducting needs assessments, process studies, and outcomes studies in social work research. Critical inquiry into the evidence-based practice movement and positivist approach, with implications for cultural relativism will also be conducted. Students will have opportunities to participate in hands-on individual and/or small-group projects to experience data collection and analysis techniques using simulation and/or role-playing techniques and publicly available datasets.
SWG 534 Prerequisite: Successful completion of SWG 533 with a minimum grade of C-; or Advanced Standing and successful completion of SWG 503 with a minimum grade of C-.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 537. Sexuality and Social Work Practice. 3 Credits.
This course is intended to provide graduate social workers an overview of therapeutic considerations of human sexuality through sex positive and sexual social justice frameworks. The course will provide students with a variety of concepts related to sexuality with an emphasis on clinical approaches and interventions. The Circles of Sexuality will be utilized as a framework that will provide students with a means to conceptualize and address clinical issues of human sexuality as they may arise in social work practice.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 541. Social Welfare Policies and Services. 3 Credits.
This course emphasizes the historical, economic, political and philosophical foundations of American social welfare policy. Special attention is given to the values, ethics, and roles of the social work profession in the evolution of selected human service programs designed to achieve social and economic justice. Models for policy analysis, strategies for social change, and the policy challenges presented by social and legal discrimination are examined.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 542. Specialized Social Work Practice with Communities. 3 Credits.
This course emphasizes the historical, economic, political, and philosophical foundations of American social welfare policy. Special attention is given to the values, ethics, and roles of the social work profession in the evolution of selected human service programs designed to achieve social and economic justice. Models for policy analysis, strategies for social change, policy challenges by social and legal discrimination, and methods of community practice are examined.
SWG 542 Prerequisite: Successful completion of SWG 502 and SWG 541; or SWG 503, with minimum grades of C-.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 554. Human Development across the Lifespan. 3 Credits.
This course uses a developmental and ecological perspective to explore the interaction of biological, psychological, and sociocultural systems, the influence of human diversity, and economics as determinants of the behaviors of individuals and families. As a generalist course, linkages to practice, research, and policy are also stressed.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 555. Organizations & Communities. 3 Credits.
This course provides the core theoretical perspectives of human behavior in organizations and communities and other societal systems. Traditional theories, alternative paradigms, and models of behavior in these various size systems will be explored and related to one another to analyze the functioning of individuals within collectives. The tasks and developmental operations within organizations and community systems will be examined with respect to how they maintain themselves and as the behavior of individual and groups within them influence one another.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 560. Mental Health: A Recovery Approach. 3 Credits.
Using a bio-psycho-social-cultural-spiritual and recovery/resiliency/capacity building template for analysis; this course examines major childhood, adolescent and adult mental health disorders. The impact of the medical model, the DSM 5, managed care and the recovery movement is evaluated in light of social work values, ethics and practice, particularly human rights and social and economic justice.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 561. Specialized SW Practice with Individuals. 3 Credits.
Building on the strengths-based, collaborative model of social work practice covered in SWG 501 and SWG 502 (or SWG 503 for Advanced Standing students), this course focuses on theory driven and evidence-based practice with individuals. Theories and models of practice to be covered in this course include attachment theory, object relations theory, cognitive-behavioral theory, humanistic/feminist theories, relational theory, social constructivist theory (which underlies the narrative approach) and the crisis intervention model. Each of these theoretical orientations provides a different lens through which to conceptualize clients, ultimately, guiding assessment, intervention, and evaluation of practice in a theoretically congruent manner. The use of each of these theoretical approaches in short term treatment and crisis intervention will also be explored and critiqued. Special attention will be given to the way in which abilities, class, ethnicity/racial identity, gender identity, and sexual orientation shape concern/"problem" identification and affect engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation. The integration of social work values and ethics within the context of the therapeutic relationship will be emphasized.
SWG 561 Prerequisite: Advanced Standing and successful completion of SWG 503; or successful completion of SWG 502, SWG 511, SWG 533, SWG 541, SWG 554, SWG 555, and SWG 560. Corequisite: SWG 598.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 562. Specialized Social Work Practice with Families. 3 Credits.
This course will explore advanced theories, models, and skills for social work practice with families (including families with children and older adults). The strengths and needs of diverse family cultures and structures will be explored. Regardless of the theoretical perspective utilized in assessing a family's strengths and needs, the students in this class will be required to consider the family a full partner in assessment and intervention, thereby empowering the family for lasting and constructive change--toward recovery and building resiliency, while mitigating the effects of trauma. The role of social workers in permanency planning, family preservation and family support services across the lifespan will be explored. Practical assessment and intervention tools arising from the major theoretical approaches will be learned experientially.
SWG 562 Prerequisite: Advanced Standing and successful completion of SWG 503 with a minimum grade of C-; or successful completion of SWG 597 with minimum grades of C-.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 563. Specialized Practice: Integrative Seminar. 3 Credits.
Building on the strengths-based, collaborative model of social work practice covered in generalist practice courses and the trauma-informed and recovery-oriented theories and models of specialized courses, this seminar prepares students to respond to the impact of trauma, loss, and grief on individuals, families, and communities within a human rights and social justice framework. There are three main foci for the course: Interprofessional Collaborative Practice; crisis theory, response to traumatic loss, and grief; and instilling hope for recovery. The capstone assignment for this course (and for the MSW curriculum) is an interprofessional simulation involving preparedness and response to a community-wide crisis affecting individuals, families, and communities.
SWG 563 Prerequisite: Successful completion of SWG 561 with a minimum grade of C-. Corequisite: SWG 599.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 565. Abolitionist Approaches to Systems that Control and Punish. 3 Credits.
This course is grounded in anti-carceral feminism and, as such, values the voices of people with lived experience, multiple forms of knowledge, and diverse forms of expertise. Furthermore, this course is approached through a historical and contemporary lens, drawing on the work of activists and social movements such as racial justice and disability justice and the lessons social work can use for their work with people as they encounter the criminal legal system. The course begins with an introduction to the logic of carceral institutions and the criminal legal system as it stands today. Students will then explore the historical roots of carceral feminism and how social work has supported the integration of carceral punishment into social institutions, systems, and services. Students will learn about existing anti-carceral policies, services, and interventions that draw on mutual aid, transformative justice, and community accountability.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 566. Storytelling and Social Work. 3 Credits.
This course provides instruction for students seeking to apply narrative approaches to encounters with individuals, families, groups, communities, and systems. The course, which uses creative engagement and didactic strategies, is divided into four modules. In the first module, students will explore definitions of stories/narratives, learn about narrative formation, consider the role of narratives, reflect on the power of narratives, discuss the universality of narratives, explore diverse narrative formats, and reflect on narrative possibilities and barriers. In the second module, students will learn about several specific narrative interventions including narrative therapy, trauma narratives, trauma art narrative therapy (TANT), narrative exposure therapy (NET), stories, and bibliotherapy/poetry therapy. In the third module, students will consider how narrative approaches align with social work values/ethics and reflect on the role of their own stories in narrative work with clients. Students will also identify challenges and opportunities in narrative assessment and review assessment measures. Finally, in the last module, students will identify specific ways to implement and apply narrative practices in their work with individuals, families, communities, and systems.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 567. Social Work, Trauma, and the Arts. 3 Credits.
This course provides instruction for social work students seeking to understand and apply the arts to encounters with traumatized individuals, communities, and systems. The course, which uses creative engagement and didactic strategies, is divided into three phases. In the introductory phase, participants will learn basic information about (1) the impact of trauma, (2) the consequences of trauma exposure, (3) the neurobiological implications of traumatization, and (4) best practices and common factors in trauma treatment. In the second phase, students will explore the relationship between social work, creativity, and trauma healing. Students will critically analyze (1) the concepts of creativity and destruction, (2) the role of various artistic media in facilitating trauma healing, and (3) the congruity of these arts based practices with social work values. In the third phase, participants will consider ways to integrate the arts into both clinical and macro contexts. Students will create and share a plan for implementation of a creative, arts-based intervention in a clinical or macro social work setting.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 569. Contemporary Perspectives on the Child Welfare System. 3 Credits.
This course will provide essential insight into the structure and function of the child welfare system, relevant for anyone providing services to at-risk or child welfare involved families, including fundamental assumptions, emerging practices, and critical reflection. A social justice framework will be applied to understanding and analyzing the organization of services and major policy issues relevant to social work practice with children, adolescents, and families. Attention is focused on the reproduction of race, gender, class and other inequalities in social policies and social service systems. The organizational context of practice and structure of service delivery for children and families will be critiqued, drawing on current and emerging perspectives.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 570. Addictions: A Neuroscience Approach to Substances and Behaviors. 3 Credits.
This course applies theories of addiction from a neuroscience perspective to explore substance use disorders and behavioral/process addictions. Students learn about the types of addiction that they may encounter in their practice as well as the range of treatment modalities available and in development. The course is grounded in a harm-reduction approach to well-being.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 571. Social Work With Older Adults. 3 Credits.
This course reviews theoretical and biopsychosocial elements of culturally responsive social work practice with older adults, their caregivers and families. The course examines the status and position of older adults in society, the community, and the interdisciplinary support service delivery system. This class includes information on assessments and interventions with diverse older adult clients regarding health and wellness, chronic illness, social networks, poverty, disability, end of life care and bereavement.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 575. Supervision, Leadership, and Administration in Social Work. 3 Credits.
This course explores supervision, leadership, and administration within social work organizations. Students will examine leadership theories, ethical decision-making, management strategies, supervision styles, and organizational behavior while applying principles of anti-oppressive practice and cultural humility. Emphasis is placed on real-world application, reflective practice, and developing leadership competencies for diverse and dynamic settings.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 579. Social Work in Health Care. 3 Credits.
This course focuses on the role of social workers and the social work profession in varied health care settings. Particular attention is given to examining social determinants of health, working within an interdisciplinary team, health policy/payer sources, ethical concerns, and ethno-cultural awareness and competency. This course also provides students with a framework to understand and apply appropriate theoretical models to work with individuals, families, and groups within the health care settings. The importance of evidence-based practice, evaluation, and self-care will also be explored.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 580. Social Work in End of Life Care. 3 Credits.
This course examines the issues of death, dying, grief and loss. The field of end of life and palliative care will be reviewed. The course will discuss attitudes towards death and dying and additional top-ics such as death with dignity acts within the U.S. The course will also introduce students to dying and grief loss stages, models and theories; coping with dying and loss; self-care: grief and loss during different developmental stages; and cultural responsiveness during end of life and bereavement care.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 581. Grief and Loss Across the Lifespan. 3 Credits.
This course examines grief and loss across the lifespan. The course will explore attitudes about loss and how this impacts care and support services. Classical and contemporary grief theories will be reviewed along with assessment and interventions for grieving individuals, families, and communities, as well as differences between non-death-related losses, disenfranchised losses, and ambiguous losses. Students will learn culturally responsive care, different developmental considerations, and critical social work practice.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 582. Dismantling Ableism: A Critique of Disability Perspectives and Practice. 3 Credits.
This course reviews theoretical and biopsychosocial elements of culturally responsive social work practice across the lifespan with individuals with disabilities and chronic illness, their caregivers, and families. The course examines the status and position of individuals with disabilities of all ages in society, the community, and the interdisciplinary support service delivery system. Students will discuss and consider disability and chronic illness through a social justice and human rights perspective.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 583. The Human-Animal Dynamic. 3 Credits.
This course focuses on relationships between humans and non-human animals with a specific focus on the ways in which a strong bond can support vulnerable populations struggling with trauma symptomology, including veterans, older adults, children and adults with disabilities, and persons with mental and behavioral health challenges. Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) are in high demand in medical and therapeutic settings; however, workforce training lags. This course is designed to give practicing social workers and current social work students the foundational skills necessary to be adequately prepared to assess, implement, and evaluate AAI in practice. The course will offer hands-on experiences with animals, current treatment modalities, and client settings. Due to the experiential nature of the course, students must be willing to travel in their own vehicles to off-site visits and must be willing to interact with domestic animals such as dogs and horses.
SWG 584. Radical Self-Care. 3 Credits.
Wellness and self-care can be extremely challenging for helping professionals despite the fact that taking care of oneself is critical to survival as professionals and as people. Unfortunately, wellness is often neglected in the modern-day human service professions. This course will challenge behavioral health professionals to consider the ramifications of not taking care of themselves while working with vulnerable individuals and populations who require us to be present and healthy. This course presents the theoretical basis for vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, moral stress, empathetic distress, and burnout from both an ethical and a socio-cultural-political perspective. Also covered is the balance of self-care and community care considering of the privilege of an individualist approach compared to healing in community. Students will be challenged to consider the privileged narrative of doing work that they "love" when they need to pay the bills with ways to enhance satisfaction and support interests in issues of social justice. The Sanctuary Model will be explored as an example of an organizational response to wellness. Most importantly, students will gain hands-on experience from local experts in multiple self-care practices, including self-monitoring, stress management, yoga, meditation, visualization, and journaling. At the end of the course, each student will have a highly detailed and individualized wellness plan that they can implement and adapt as needed. This course is ideal for all helping professionals, especially those who are facing significant life stressors: caregiving for children, aging parents, and other family members; managing financial obligations; and balancing personal, emotional, and mental health.
SWG 586. Motivational Interviewing. 3 Credits.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based counseling/communication method designed for evoking intrinsic motivation for positive behavior change. Originally developed in the drug and alcohol field, MI is now empirically supported to be delivered in a variety of settings, including social services, health care, mental health, public health, and criminal justice. This course will immerse students in theories, principles, and skills of MI and focus primarily on the use of MI by social workers using role and real-plays to learn and demonstrate practice skills. Following the Eight Stages of Learning MI (Moyers & Miller, 2006) students will be guided through a sequence of experiential learning activities to develop and refine their skills of MI. Students will also develop beginning proficiency in identifying and coding MI skills using the MITI 3.1.
SWG 589. Analysis and Application of Humor in Social Work. 3 Credits.
This course will explore the use of humor as a complementary therapy and advocacy tool over the past half-century internationally. The anatomy of humor, types of humor, and humor as both empowering and oppressive will be investigated. Students will learn experientially developing and completing a personalized humor therapy treatment plan in addition to examining the application of humor on the micro, mezzo, and macro levels of social work practice.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 590. Seminar in Social Work. 3 Credits.
In-depth topics in social work offered to complement the program's concentration and not offered in required courses.
Distance education offering may be available.
Repeatable for credit.
SWG 591. Independent Study in Social Work. 1-3 Credits.
An independent project developed by a student under the guidance of a specific faculty member.
Repeatable for credit.
SWG 593. Green Social Work and Environmental Justice. 3 Credits.
This course emphasizes a framework of environmental justice for exploring the connection between environmental impact and social, political, and economic structures. An environmental psychology perspective is utilized to understand how attitudes and behaviors related to the natural environment and sustainability are shaped, reinforced, and changed. Students will learn about a broad range of topics related to conservation of the natural environment, analyze the impact on communities, and practice skills relevant to behavioral change, community engagement, and advocacy.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 594. Family Violence. 3 Credits.
This course examines family violence as a biopsychosocial phenomenon from a social work perspective. Particular attention will be given to the etiology, myths, and dynamics of intimate partner violence (IPV). Elder abuse, child abuse, and sibling violence are discussed, but are secondary topics. Although historical, sociological, and political perspectives are explored, we focus on an integrated theoretical model that supports movement toward evidence-based practice and policy innovation. A review of the issues, policies, programs, and services will be discussed.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 595. Human Rights Exploration. 3 Credits.
This course will provide the theoretical, conceptual, and practical foundation for social workers to engage in a human rights-based approach to social work. Students will gain an understanding of how the international human rights principles can be applied to social work practice in domestic and international settings, particularly in crisis situations. A number of historical and current cases from a variety of countries will be used to examine how social workers can both advocate for and respect human rights in a manner that promotes recovery, resiliency, and capacity building. This course includes a study abroad experience and requires an application through the Global Engagement Office.
Repeatable for credit.
SWG 596. Generalist Practicum I. 3 Credits.
This course is the first of two Generalist practicum courses, each consisting of a structured practicum experience at an assigned practicum site for 16 hours per week during the academic semester. Included in the 16 hours is a mandatory 60-minute individual supervisory session with an approved Practicum Instructor, as well as at least 30 minutes of additional supervisory time in group or other settings. At the Generalist level, the practicum will include individual, family, group, organization, and community practice goals.
SWG 597. Generalist Practicum II. 3 Credits.
This course is the second of two Generalist practicum courses, each consisting of a structured practicum experience at an assigned practicum site for 16 hours per week during the academic semester. Included in the 16 hours is a mandatory 60-minute individual supervisory session with an approved Practicum Instructor, as well as at least 30 minutes of additional supervisory time in group or other settings. At the Generalist level, the practicum will include individual, family, group, organization, and community practice goals.
SWG 598. Specialized Practicum I. 3 Credits.
This course is the first of two required specialization year field practicum courses, each consisting of a structured field experience at an assigned practicum site for 18 hours per week during the academic semester. Included in the 18 hours is a mandatory 60-minute individual supervisory session with an approved Field Instructor, as well as at least 30 minutes of additional supervisory time in group or other settings.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 599. Specialized Practicum II. 3 Credits.
This course is the first of two required specialization year field practicum courses, each consisting of a structured field experience at an assigned practicum site for 18 hours per week during the academic semester. Included in the 18 hours is a mandatory 60-minute individual supervisory session with an approved Field Instructor, as well as at least 30 minutes of additional supervisory time in group or other settings.
SWG 599 Prerequisite: Corequisites of SWG 563 and SWG 602.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 600. Assessment, Intervention, and Evaluation for the School Social Worker. 3 Credits.
Geared toward social workers practicing in school settings, this course will explore individual, group, and systemic approaches to assessment, intervention, and evaluation. This course is divided into three modules: (1) individual interventions and assessment tools, (2) group interventions and assessment tools, and (3) school-wide approaches. Throughout the course, students will be exposed to a wide range of tools and strategies that pull from multiple theoretical lenses and practice-based models. Students will consider how to implement these tools and models from the perspective of social work ethics and values. Additionally, students will consider barriers and opportunities to implementation and identify potential connections between theory and practice.
SWG 600 Prerequisite: Advanced Standing and successful completion of SWG 503 with a minimum grade of C-; or SWG 501 and SWG 502 with minimum grades of C-.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 601. Education Law and Policy for Social Workers. 3 Credits.
This course will introduce students to federal, state, and local laws that impact social workers, staff, and students in the school setting. From the lens of social work ethics and values, students will explore legislation and policy related to confidentiality, youth homelessness, Title IV funding and programs, special education, truancy, diverse student identities, conduct violations, suicide prevention, threat assessment, and discipline. Additional topics include the differences between private, public, and charter schooling, interdisciplinary collaboration in school settings, the multi-tiered model of support, and the role of school boards. In this course, students not only learn about applicable laws and policies, but they consider how these laws and policies impact youth and shape the manner in which school social workers intervene with youth in school settings.
SWG 601 Prerequisite: Advanced Standing and successful completion of SWG 503 with a minimum grade of C-; or SWG 501 and SWG 502 with minimum grades of C-.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 602. Integrated School Social Work Practice. 3 Credits.
Building on the strengths-based, collaborative model of social work practice covered in generalist practice courses and the trauma-informed and recovery-oriented theories and models of specialized courses, this seminar prepares students to respond to the individual, group, and systemic needs of the youth and families served within the context of school social work practice. Students will consider the unique advantages and barriers of social work practice in a school setting. They will consider potential ways to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration with community partners. Additionally, they will explore interventions and supports that can assist youth in processing mental health challenges, trauma, grief/loss, and suicidal ideation.
Distance education offering may be available.
SWG 999. Social Work Graduate Transfer Credits (Graduate). 3-9 Credits.
Transfer Credits
Repeatable for credit.
